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fve things you should know about boat insurance

Are you ready to embark on your next on-water adventure? Before you set sail, here are fve things to know about boat insurance.

1. Boat insurance isn’t just for accidents

With comprehensive coverage, you’ll also be protected fnancially for theft, vandalism, and unexpected events like storms if you need repairs or replacements due to damage.

Accidents can happen to anyone

When accidents happen, boat insurance offers liability coverage for damages or injuries you cause while boating, up to specifed limits. It can also cover lawsuit costs if you’re sued.

3. Boat insurance can cover medical payments

Boat insurance offers a range of optional medical payments coverage limits, helping to cover medical expenses if you’re in an accident or someone is hurt on your boat, regardless of fault.

4. Most lenders require boat insurance

If you fnanced your boat, you’ll likely need boat insurance since most lenders require boat insurance to protect their investment. Additionally, some marinas or municipalities require proof of insurance for docking.

5. Progressive offers specialized boat coverages

Ever worry about getting stuck on the water? Progressive’s Sign & Glide® On-Water Towing coverage** can help. It’s an additional coverage that steps in if your boat is disabled or breaks down on the water, paying for on-water towing, jump starts, soft ungroundings, and fuel delivery. Fuel cost isn’t included.

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‘MAY’ Your Cup Overfoweth with Gags & Scamps!

You probably noticed my attempt at a little humor with that title—just what we need a!er a long closed season. In my personal view, the closure has been unnecessary, much like the situation with Atlantic red snapper. Many of us are simply trying to catch seabass and grunts for dinner, but we keep getting pushed o our favorite spots where red snapper and gags are abundant. Yet, these species are still considered endangered. I think you know where I stand on this topic, so I won’t dwell on it any further.

As warm water moves in closer to the beach, expect to nd king sh and cobia frequenting the same spots where you’re catching gags when the water temperature rises above 68°F. Always have a pitch rod ready as cobia may swim right up to the boat. However, don’t be surprised if you catch cobia while bottom shing with a decor jig and an appealing bait. In fact, more cobia are o!en caught on the bottom than on the surface when anchored up and targeting grouper.

schools of cigar minnows and sardines on them. You don’t need to look any further when you nd this combination of bait because the sh will be right there. It’s always a good idea to keep one person on the Sabiki jigging up. A live sardine or a live cigar on a decoy has a life expectancy of under ten seconds around any kind of sh. We try to never leave the marina without a couple boxes of frozen cigar minnows and live pin sh. at live pin sh can sometimes be the best selection of all because it’s too large for any of the trash bites.

TIM BAREFOOT

of other species like vermilions, mangroves, grunts and seabass.

In addition to all the other stu on the bottom, it’s always good to keep a light line out for kings, black n, wahoo and dolphin. It’s not a bad idea to keep one under a %oat (so you can keep an eye on it) and another one without a %oat, but you have to be mindful of that bait getting back into props or under the boat tangling other lines.

I’ve always said, “Find the bait, nd the sh.” Go to all your familiar haunts with structure of one kind of another, whether it’s ledges, rock out crops, wrecks, etc. e bonus will be nding

Any kind of little snapper about the size of your hand makes for the ultimate bait. I’m no longer shing for barely-legal gag or scamp. Instead, I’m looking for one good bite at a time. I’ll let that bait soak on the bottom and be patient waiting for the old man to show up. Don’t get me wrong, more sh have been caught on frozen cigar minnows and sardines than all the other baits combined, but a live one is simply irresistible to every grouper and/or snapper out there. Period. Nearly everything on the bottom will take a whack at it, but only the sh with the correct sized mouth can eat that small snapper. Because the creel limits are so low, you’ll easily reach your grouper limit. Once you have, it’s wise to take advantage

If you’re anchoring and not just using the trolling motor, it’s a great idea to %y the kite. Keep a couple baits suspended with little to no leader in the water. Live greenies, cigs or sardines under the kite is the ultimate presentation. You can even get away with %uorocarbon using circle hooks depending on the current. Don’t hesitate to put a bait out with a small amount of weight in front of it to get it down 30 to 50 feet behind the boat. is will get you that large wahoo bite. ere are so many options available this time of year in the warmer water, so be ready to take advantage of all of them once you ll your cooler with one species or another. is is the ideal time to broaden your approach and become skilled in targeting not only di erent types of snapper and grouper, but also pelagics.

MAY you nd calm seas, tight lines and delicious dinners this month!

Learn more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com.

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FISHING THE SPANISH MACKEREL RUN

By Mark Ambert

Every spring off Jupiter, Florida, the water comes alive in streaks of chrome and violence. The Spanish mackerel run isn’t subtle. When it hits, the reefs and beaches around Jupiter Inlet turn into a high-speed feeding corridor.

Spanish mackerel move south along the Florida coast in tight, aggressive schools, shadowing glass minnows, pilchards, threadfins, and juvenile sardines. One minute the ocean looks like polished blue glass, the next, it’s erupting — bait spraying skyward, birds diving, and packs of green-backed torpedoes slashing through the chaos.

What makes the Jupiter run special is proximity. You don’t need to run 20 miles. Fish stack along the beach, and over the nearshore reefs in 20 to 60 feet, and right along the inlet edges where tide and bait collide. It’s accessible, visual, and flat-out electric.

Gear Setup: Keep It Light, Keep It Fast

Spanish mackerel demand speed and flash, so leave the heavy gear at home. A 7-foot medium or mediumlight spinning rod matched to a 3000–4000 size reel is ideal. Spool with 15-20lb. braid for casting distance and sensitivity. Top it with 18–24 inches of 20–30lb. fluorocarbon leader. Yes, you’ll lose a few to sharp teeth, but wire kills the bite in clear water. When they’re thick and chewing, you can sneak in a short section of #3 single-strand wire — just keep it minimal.

Carry 1/4–1/2 oz. silver spoons, slim-profile jigs, and small epoxy minnows. Retrieve fast, Spanish mackerel are reaction feeders.

From a boat, trolling small feathers or shallowdiving plugs at 4–6 knots will cover water efficiently when schools are roaming. Keep lines staggered 50–80 feet back and watch for surface activity to adjust your spread.

Tide Strategy Around Inlets

On an incoming tide, clean water pushes through inlets like Jupiter, carrying bait with it. Spanish mackerel will stage along the north and south jetties and just outside the mouth, picking off stunned baitfish in the current seams. Fish the edges of that moving water — not dead center in the rip, but where fast water meets slack.

Outgoing tide can be just as productive. Bait flushes seaward, and mackerel line up outside the mouth and along the first reef line. Position your boat and drift naturally with the flow, casting ahead of the drift.

Wind against tide is even better. A northeast breeze against an outgoing current creates surface chop that disorients bait and ignites the bite.

Low-light periods consistently produce the heaviest feeding. But don’t ignore mid-morning if birds are working.

The Spanish mackerel run off Jupiter is uncomplicated and perfect for beginners. It’s wind, tide, bait, and speed. Match the hatch, fish the current seams, and keep your lure moving like it owes somebody money. When it all lines up, you won’t just hook one — you’ll find yourself in the middle of a chrome-plated riot that defines spring on Florida’s east coast.

Mark Ambert, IG @marksgonefishing_™

Equipment Used -- Coastal Fishing https://www.coastalfishing.com/

An assortment of lipped lures trolled or casted is a winning ticket.

Please be sure to check out my YouTube Channel “Darcizzle Offshore” for fishing videos every week! www.youtube.com/DarcizzleOffshore with

Fishing the Palm Beaches Fishing Forecast Darcizzle

We have quite a diversity of species in our waters right now and May is feasibly the prime month of the YEAR to fish off the Palm Beaches! There are a multitude of factors as to why this is one of the best fishing months of the year. High winds should diminish, and water temperatures will quickly rise a couple degrees to average of 80°F giving the offshore angler greater opportunities to fill their fish box! The winds this month will primarily blow out of the E/SE quadrant which will trigger some very large pelagics to move closer to our coast. This time of year will continue to produce a strong mahi mahi bite all the way through June, diminishing when the pelagics start moving further offshore. It’s a good idea for you to pay attention to the dolphin bite taking place off the coast of the FL Keys and Miami-Dade counties because it will be a good indicator for what you should expect in our waters within a few days. For the anglers that like to catch king mackerel, there will be a favorable morning bite in general. Typically, king fish can be found close to the reef in 90 to 120 feet of water from Boynton to Jupiter Inlet. Trolling spoons or slow trolling live bait with down riggers are the best methods for

targeting king mackerel. The blackfin tuna will be abundant too, waters between The Breakers Hotel and the Lost Tree Club is a well-known hot spot. Try fishing with live bait in 100 to 250 feet of water with a steady current water flow. The arrival of bait fish will start to show up in our waters this month. Pull out those cast nets and sabiki rigs. On your sabiki rig, attach a bucktail jig or a pyramid sinker to the end of it and catch some bait close to shore on rock piles and wrecks. Inshore fishing should produce excellent action as well! Jack crevalle will be schooled up tightly and will eat any live bait within their strike zone. Tarpon will start to show up in the inlets and juvenile fish can be found in the bays and canals. Try using live bait, jigs, and lip divers to entice a tarpon to bite. Snook should also produce plenty of exciting action; work artificial lures and flare hawks along seawalls, docks, and near structure. Finally, tournament season has officially begun with multiple events every weekend. Prepare yourself for heavy boat traffic on the weekends, especially on tournament days. Boating safety is always a primary concern for all water lovers alike. Be safe, follow YOUR dream, and keep on catchin’!

SOUTH COUNTY INSHORE

Fishing Forecast

May is one of the most productive months across Palm Beach County, with warming waters and bait concentrations driving a strong inshore bite. Snook are in pre-spawn mode, staging around inlets, bridges, and seawalls, especially during higher tides and low-light periods. Live bait like pilchards and threadfins are hard to beat, but swimbaits and topwaters will also draw explosive strikes. Tarpon fishing ramps up significantly this month, with fish rolling in the ICW, back bays, and along the beaches at first light. Expect steady action from jacks, mangrove snapper, and snook on the flats, particularly where bait is present and water clarity is good.

Nearshore, May brings some of the best action of the spring as bait schools stack up along the beaches and reef edges. Tarpon migration is

Bottom fishing mutton snapper out of Boynton Inlet was a success, the fish were chewing good!

in full swing, with fish cruising the shoreline and feeding around bait pods—live mullet, crabs, and large threadfins are top choices. Kingfish and Spanish mackerel remain active just outside The Breakers, trolling spoons or slow-trolling live baits is an effective way to cover water. Cobia are still a strong possibility so always keep a rod ready to pitch. Reef fishing in 60–120 feet is producing mutton snapper, yellowtails, and the occasional grouper, especially when anchoring and chumming.

Freshwater fishing stays strong, as largemouth bass are settling into a post-spawn feeding pattern. Early mornings and late afternoons are ideal for topwater action, while flipping soft plastics and working submerged vegetation will produce fish throughout the day. Peacocks remain very active in the canals, favoring live shiners and flashy artificials in the heat of the afternoon. With stable conditions and plenty of forage available, anglers can expect solid numbers and quality fish across both freshwater and saltwater. May offers a wide-open bite and plenty of options for anglers willing to adapt to the conditions.

This young lady landed an enormous pork fish.

Weird to think that this is a baby goliath grouper, but they grow to be giants.

Nice little tarpon for a spring breaker that braved the weather.

It’s that time of the year, the snook of a lifetime could pop up anywhere.

LIVING ON ISLAND TIME

•

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This is an exciting time in Florida as warming waters signal the arrival of mahi mahi (a fish so nice they named it twice)! These vibrant, hard fighting fish migrate through our local waters each year, bringing rod bending action and unforgettable days on the water.

As summer approaches, the Gulf Stream pushes closer to shore, bringing clear blue water, defined weed lines, and an abundance of floating debris aka floaters. Floaters create what we like to call upside down ecosystems, as they provide protection for small organisms, which attract baitfish and in turn draw in predators like mahi. It’s not uncommon to find entire schools under a single weed patch, creating opportunities for multiple hook ups in a matter of minutes.

There are three primary ways we like to target mahi, each offering its own strategy and excitement.

Trolling weed lines remains one of the most widely used methods. By pulling ballyhoo or lures along weed lines and current edges, anglers can cover large areas of water while searching for active fish. We like to stick with chugger heads in colors like blues, pinks, and whites, trolling at around 7 knots. Don’t be surprised if multiple rods go off at once. Mahi are a schooling species, and when they show up, it can get chaotic fast.

Running and gunning is a more aggressive, visual approach. This technique involves scanning the horizon for hot birds like diving frigates that signal feeding fish below and running the boat straight over

PALM BEACH IN & OFFSHORE

Fishing Forecast with

WESTON RUSSELL

Capt. Weston Russell • www.reelintensefishing.com •561-310-2690

ITHREE WAYS to MAHI FISH

to them. When birds are actively working, it often means mahi are pushing bait to the surface. You can run directly to the action, pitch baits or lures, and hook up almost instantly. It’s fast, reactive, and one of our personal favorite ways to fish offshore.

Kite fishing offers a more technical but highly productive approach. By fishing live baits on the surface using a kite, anglers can present baits in a natural, irresistible way. This method is especially effective for bonus bycatch like sailfish, kingfish, or tuna.

PRO TIP: always have a few spinning rods rigged and ready with chunks of bait like ballyhoo or squid. When you find a school, pitch those baits out right away. Mahi love to school, and the key is to always keep at least one fish in the water. Leaving a hooked fish just off the boat will often keep the rest of the school fired up and hanging around, turning one bite into a full fish box.

Whether you are trolling weed lines, chasing birds, or flying a kite, mahi fishing is all about staying observant and adaptable. With the right conditions and approach, you can turn a single weed patch or flock of birds into one of the most action-packed days on the water.

JUPITER INLET INSHORE Fishing Forecast

The month of May offers great fishing as local waters are teeming with a plethora of species.

f you like variety, you will love the month of May. Offshore of Palm Beach, the spring kings will be plentiful. The waters south of The Breakers Hotel will produce some tournament winning fish. Try slow trolling a live blue runner or goggle eye in depths of 80 to 120 feet; don’t forget to put a stinger hook in its tail. The blackfin tuna bite will also be on this month. These fish are hard fighters and make for great table fare. To catch them you will need a 20 lb. spinner or conventional gear combined with a light fluorocarbon leader. A good tactic for catching tuna is live chumming off the edge of the reef. Try depths from 130 to 250 feet as the range. Tuna hunt in low light conditions, so early morning or late evening will also be your best bet. If you’re fishing middle of the day, get your baits down deep.

The reef bite will be good this time of the year. The sun sets later, so take advantage of this extra fishing time. You may be rewarded with a nice mutton snapper or flag yellowtail.

Inshore anglers, look to the beaches as tarpon will be running in packs. Cruise the beaches and look for any black patches that move, these fish will be chasing sardines. Try pitching a live sardine or jumbo shrimp in front of the school and hold on! Remember, to point your rod at the fish when it jumps. Good luck and tight lines!

Snook fishing heats up as they start to migrate to local passes and beaches for their upcoming spawn. The snook can be seen cruising along seawalls and docks in search of food. Live bait and D.O.A. 3” Shad Tail on a 1/4-ounce jig head casted in their vicinity will get your drag screaming. Bait schools will be in our local area, and it’s time for topwater action. Rapala Skitter Walks worked over open flats and near heavy structure will cause explosive action. If you have never experienced topwater action for snook, there is nothing like it. These snook will range from 5 to 20 pounds.

Tarpon will also provide awesome fishing with acrobatic leaps and drag screaming runs for anglers. They can be found in the ICW, local inlets, and beaches. Live baits like mullet or pinfish work great. Artificial lures like a D.O.A. 3” Shad Tail and a D.O.A. TerrorEyz will get the drag screaming.

The inshore waters will also be abundant with jacks, sharks, ladyfish, snapper, and many other species, putting a bend in the rod. Live bait freelined with the tide or Rapala X-Rap will get the strike.

Well, that is the fishing forecast for May. I hope everybody enjoyed, now get out there and experience the thrill of drag screaming action.

Tight lines!

CAPT. CRAIG KORCZYNSKI

Rachel and Chris with a silver king.

Check out this fat blackfin hooked off a kite bait.

KAYAK Fishing Forecast

CAPT. BRIAN NELLI

Baylen with his first clown knifefish and snakehead.

Inshore

May is here! Snook will be back as the main target inshore this month. Fishing seawalls, bridges, and docks are your best bet. Beef up your tackle a bit to be able to pull these fish from structure. I like using a Crowder Rods 7 foot 12-25lb E-Series. Teaming that up with a live mullet and circle hook on 60lb fluorocarbon leader. For artificial a Yo-Zuri Lures TopKnock or a D.O.A. Bait Buster are both great options.

Offshore

Chris with a mangrove pulled snook.

This month really kicks off the best time to fish offshore. Weather, numbers of pelagics, and bait will provide you with plenty of action. Mahi, tuna, sailfish, wahoo, and kingfish will all be in the normal trolling waters of 60-250 feet of water. I really like to focus on the tuna using a vertical jig. A Catch Fishing jig dropped in 200-300 feet of water can be deadly on these fish. Look to focus getting you jig to mid water column and mix in a variety of different speed retrieves. The weight of the jig will vary on the speed of the current. Start with 100g and work your way up with the speed of current. If you want to use live bait, goggle eyes, pilchards, threadfins, blue runners, and mullet will all be good presentations. Deep diving Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows are a great option as well for an artificial presentation.

Freshwater

Peacock bass, largemouth, and clown knifefish will be chewing this month. Prop baits will work well for peacock along shallow edges. Try 15-pound Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon leader and a 2/0 circle hook casting in and around structure and weed lines to get onto a few clowns. Look to fish mid water column and below by adding a pinch weight to your leader and get that bait in their face.

THE OVERLOOKED MONTH FOR TROPHY SPECKLED TROUT MAY:

If you’re a big trout enthusiast like me, you know there’s still time le to chase a personal best—if you haven’t had your ll over the past few months. While most anglers focus on trophy speckled trout from December through early April, May quietly remains one of the most underrated windows of the year. With the full moon in late May, many of those big females will hold eggs all month, giving anglers one last legitimate shot at a heavy trout before the spawn wraps up.

What makes May even better is how enjoyable it is to be on the water. e cold winter grind is behind us, waders can nally come o , and the warmer conditions allow for a more aggressive approach. Unlike winter, when slow presentations dominate, May lets you sh with more con dence and energy. Topwater explosions become a real possibility again, and there are few things more exciting than watching a big trout crush a lure on the surface.

at said, topwaters aren’t the only tool in play. Slow-sinking and suspending baits still produce, and so plastics—especially paddle tails—shine this time of year. With water temperatures rising, trout are more active and willing to chase.

Adding sound, like a subtle tail rattle, can make a noticeable di erence in getting bites from these larger sh. Sizes from 3” to 5” can all be e so don’t hesitate to mix it up until you nd what they want.

Location plays just as important a role as lure selection. I like to focus on grass knee- to waist-deep water, especially those with nearby drains from small lakes or creeks. areas concentrate bait and naturally pull in predators. Subtle features—like potholes, small depressions, or even a one-foot drop-o —can hold sh and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Approach is everything in shallow water. Whether you’re wading or shing from a kayak, stealth matters. Position yourself far enough o your target area to avoid spooking sh, especially in clear conditions. Cover water methodically with a fan-cast approach, working from short casts to longer ones. Starting close allows you to pick o sh in front of you before potentially spooking them with longer casts.

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Shallow water may look too skinny to hold quality sh, but time and time again it proves otherwise. e key is reading the conditions,

they want to be. Some days they’ll be scattered across a at, while other times they’ll stack up along a subtle edge or current break.

May is your last real shot at an egg-heavy trophy trout before summer patterns take over. Take advantage of the warmer weather, sh with con dence, and enjoy the experience. And if you can, take a kid shing—they like big trout too.

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor and owner of Knockin Tail Lures® — knockintaillures.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

MDROP IT LIKE IT’S

By A. deGruchy

ay 1st marks one of the most anticipated days in the Florida Keys: the reopening of grouper season. e Florida Keys o ers a variety of grouper species, each with its own habits and appeal. Black grouper are the top prize, known for their size and power, typically found on deeper reefs and wrecks. Red grouper

are more common on patch reefs and ledges and are a great target for steady action. Gag grouper show up more in deeper water and are prized for both their ght and table quality.

Grouper shing is all about positioning and strength. ese sh live in holes, ledges, and wrecks, and when they bite, they immediately try

to return to structure. Success depends on getting your bait down quickly and pulling hard the second you feel a strike. ere is no waiting. You either win the rst few seconds or lose the sh. Tackle matters. A heavy-duty setup using PENN conventional reels paired with strong rods gives you the drag and li ing power needed to keep sh out of the rocks. On the terminal side, circle hooks are the standard for reef shing, improving hook placement and supporting conservation. Pair these with heavy leader and enough weight to stay pinned to the bottom. Live bait like pin sh or grunts is ideal. Bigger baits o en mean bigger grouper, especially when targeting black grouper o shore.

It is also important to understand that grouper are a slow-growing species. Many take years to reach legal size, and they are particularly vulnerable during spawning periods. at is why strict regulations, seasons, and gear requirements exist. Responsible anglers follow the rules, handle sh carefully, and use tools like descending devices when releasing sh from deeper water.

Here in the Keys, your approach can vary based on conditions. O shore trips o er a shot at larger sh in deeper water, while patch reef shing can provide more consistent action and shorter runs. Both are productive, and the best option o en depends on weather and current conditions. Show up prepared, sh hard, and respect the resource so it stays strong for years to come.

For more real-world shing action in the Florida Keys, follow Bean Sport shing on YouTube

www.adamsmarine.com To Reserve a Spot Call: 352-447-1950 Email: info@adamsmarine.com

SPEND LE TIME ON TASKS More Time Fishing

It’s no fsh tale when you run with a John Deere. You can get everything done faster and easier, so you get more time on the water. Plus, our special offers make them the catch of the day.

Lipless Crankbait vs. the Chatterbait:

HowMatchingtheHatchandtheRightRodDrivesBassFishingSuccess

Lipless vibrating lures have long been staples in bass !shing, but few create more debate—or more bites—than the lipless crankbait (rattle trap) and the chatterbait. While both rely on vibration to trigger reaction strikes, their e ectiveness depends heavily on forage, seasonal timing, and even the rod and reel used to !sh them.

A lipless crankbait is a hard-bodied bait designed for speed and sound. Its tight vibration and internal rattles allow bass to locate it from long distances, making it ideal when !sh are actively feeding on bait!sh like shad. ese baits excel in open water or over submerged grass, where anglers can burn them, yo-yo them, or rip them free to trigger reaction strikes. For rattle traps, rod selection plays a major role in landing !sh. A 7’ to 7’3” mediumheavy rod with a moderate or moderate-fast action is ideal. e slightly so er tip allows bass to fully load the rod before the hooks engage, reducing the chances of pulling treble hooks free during surging !ghts. e longer length also helps make long casts, which is critical when covering water or targeting schooling !sh. You typically want to throw the trap on a faster gear ratio reel like a 7.1 or 7.3. e faster gear ratio helps pick up the line on long cast when you get a bite and need to catch up with the !sh.

A chatterbait, or bladed jig, produces a wider, thumping vibration and a more natural pro!le when paired with a so plastic trailer. is lure shines around shallow grass, docks, and wood, especially in stained water where bass rely more on vibration than sight. Chatterbaits o en mimic bluegill or bream, making them deadly around spawning areas and shallow cover. Because chatterbaits use a single heavy hook, anglers bene!t from a slightly di erent rod setup. A 7’ to 7’4” medium-heavy rod with a fast action provides the backbone needed to drive the hook home while still o ering enough tip to keep !sh pinned. is setup also allows anglers to control !sh quickly when pulling them out of thick cover.

Beyond lure, reel, and rod choice, matching the hatch remains one of the most important elements of success. Bass o en focus on a speci!c

WHY BUY NEW WHEN YOU

By NPFL Pro Angler Joey Bloom

forage, and lures that match the size, color, and movement of that prey get bit more consistently. Chrome or white rattle traps imitate %eeing shad in open water, while green pumpkin or bluegillpattern chatterbaits blend perfectly into shallow cover scenarios. To maximize these techniques, anglers must learn to follow the bait throughout the season. In late winter and early spring, bait move toward warming %ats, making rattle traps excellent search tools.

A er the spawn, bluegill become a primary food source, and chatterbaits excel around shallow cover and spawning grounds. In summer, bait o en shi s to deeper grass lines or o shore structure, where slow-rolled chatterbaits can shine. Come fall, shad migrate into the backs of creeks, and rattle traps once again dominate as bass feed aggressively ahead of winter.

By pairing the right vibrating lure with proper reel and rod length and action—and matching it to seasonal forage—anglers can signi!cantly increase e ciency and landing percentage. In bass !shing, success o en comes down to details, and choosing the right reel and rod can be just as important as choosing the right bait.

Follow all of Joey Bloom’s shing and fun on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at Joey Bloom Fishing.

COME JOIN

MPRO FISHING TECHNIQUES TOP 3 PRO TIPS to Catch More Fish

CAPT. MIKE SMITH

any anglers haphazardly run around searching for !sh. ey see a !shy looking point and anchor up and start casting. Hours later they give up and go home empty handed.

at !shy looking point probably does have !sh on it some of the time, but not all the time.

What did they do wrong? ey forgot that !sh move around based on water temperatures, food resources, currents, water quality and the presence of larger predators. In my experience, 80% of the !sh will be in 20% of the area based on those conditions.

Here are the three most important pro tips to help you catch more !sh.

1. Find Feeding Fish. My !shing charters always start by scanning mangrove shorelines, grass %ats, and spoil islands for feeding !sh. Obviously, this is the easiest way to !gure out where the !sh are.

If you can !nd baits being crushed by predatory !sh, then start casting there. Even if you only !nd nervous bait, that’s still a great spot to start casting.

2. Find Food Resources. When the !sh are not actively feeding your next best bet is !nding bait. Sometimes the bait is obvious and you can start casting along the edges of the schools.

If you can’t actually see any bait then let the birds tell you where it is and what size it is. Birds always know where the food is. When you see diving pelicans or a great blue heron perched on a mangrove branch you know there is bait there.

e various bird species will tell you what lures to cast. When you see small wading birds like snowy egrets, little blue herons, green herons and tri-colored herons, then you know to cast something small. is really helps because you can grab your three-inch paddle tail or 2.75 inch shrimp and know that you are !shing with the right size lure. ose smaller herons usually target baits that are three inches or smaller.

When you see great white egrets, great blue herons and brown pelicans it gets a little harder to !gure out the size of the baits to use. You know there is food there but those birds will eat anything from a two-inch minnow up to an eight-inch mullet.

is is when you need an assortment of di erent sizes and pro!les of lures. I usually have a three-inch paddle tail, an arti!cial shrimp and a four to !ve and half inch jerkbait (%uke) rigged on my rods. Start casting until you !gure out what the !sh want on that day.

3. Find Moving Water. e next important factor is moving water. All of the predatory inshore species that you want to catch like a little bit of current.

ey will typically be facing into the current waiting for some unsuspecting food resource to %ow past their ambush point.

Your strongest currents are going to occur during the full moon and the new moon. Coincidentally, the best !shing occurs around these two moon phases.

Go get ‘em!

Capt. Mike Smith, owner of Fish Your Ass O Charters, is an inshore shing guide who has been shing the inshore waters, oyster bars and grass ats of Florida for more than 40 years. Reach him at (561) 3392317, email: contact@ shyourasso .com or visit shyourasso .com.

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Every spring, it feels like the bank bite will last forever. Fish are shallow, visible, and predictable cruising, spawning, and guarding fry. It’s the time of year when con!dence is high and decisions feel easy. But like everything in !shing, that window doesn’t stay open long. Before most anglers realize it, the !sh that were once easy to !nd have simply vanished.

at disappearance marks the beginning of what seasoned anglers know as the o shore shi . As water temperatures climb and the spawn wraps up, bass begin pulling away from the bank and setting up on o shore structure. Ledges, shell beds, brush piles, and subtle depth changes start to hold more !sh than the shoreline ever could. It’s not an overnight move, but it happens quickly enough that many !shermen get le behind, still casting to water that’s no longer alive.

One of the biggest mistakes anglers make during this transition is assuming the !sh have stopped biting. In reality, they’ve just relocated. Instead of being scattered along miles of bank, bass begin grouping up in smaller, more de!ned areas. e challenge

TYLER WOOLCOTT

FROM A PRO THE OFFSHORE SHIFT: WHEN BASS LEAVE THE BANK FOR GOOD

shi s from covering water visually to understanding what lies beneath the surface. It becomes less about instinct and more about intention reading depth, structure, and subtle changes that aren’t visible at a glance.

Making the adjustment isn’t always easy, especially for anglers who are comfortable !shing shallow. It requires slowing down, trusting your electronics, and committing to areas that might not show immediate signs of life. But once you connect with your !rst o shore group, everything changes. What felt like a tough day can turn into a %urry of action in just a few casts, o en with better quality !sh than what the bank was o ering.

e o shore shi is more than just a seasonal pattern—it’s a turning point. It separates those who react to changing conditions from those who anticipate them. As summer approaches, the anglers who embrace the move away from the bank will !nd themselves ahead of the curve, dialing in on schools of bass that are no longer pressured by the crowds. And while the shoreline may feel empty, the real action is just a little deeper.

is a professional tournament angler, as well as owner/operator of Florida Big Fish Adventures, providing bass and saltwater guided shing trips: www. oridabig shadventures.com.

Capt. Tyler Woolcott

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